Can AFCB grab back second place by beating Millwall?

While it has been a good couple of first weeks of the New Year for AFCB, there is increasing pressure to keep winning to keep pace with the leaders. Bournemouth will need to change their starting 11 from the weekend, but this game against Millwall gives the team a chance to get back into the automatic promotion places which is a big incentive.

AFCB get ready to take on Millwall

Millwall have been fairly decent on the road. They drew all of the away games in November with Norwich City among them. More recently, they beat Bristol City 0-2 away in December. They are also coming off the back of an FA Cup an away win against Boreham Wood.

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Jed Wallace leads Millwall's goalscoring table with six goals, but the whole team pretty much has a goal or more to their name. Among the players we could see is former Cherry Connor Mahoney who has scored twice this season, but he has been injured of late. Scott Malone is also still at Millwall and has a brace against his name in the goals column. It is noticeable that Millwall haven't scored more than two goals in a game until you go back to the Carabao Cup win they had against Southend in mid-September. They don't get beaten that heavily often either, Middlesbrough have done best against them at home with a 3-0 win back in mid-December.

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Gary Rowett is the Millwall manager having replaced Neil Harris in October 2019. Rowett is a well-travelled Championship manager having been at Birmingham City, Derby Co and Stoke City. A few AFCB fans may also know that former Cherry Adam Barrat is the assistant manager at Millwall.

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Bournemouth could well bring back Asmir Begovic, Junior Stanislas, Dominic Solanke, Jefferson Lerma and Lewis Cook for this game. These players have had a rest and probably help give AFCB a bit more of a fear factor. Jason Tindall has not talked about Arnaut Danjuma in his pre-match press conference which indicates to me that Danjuma is really struggling to get back having been out for a fair amount of time since the Nottingham Forest game. There will be an interesting call between Adam Smith and Jack Stacey, but I'm not expecting too many surprises with the Cherries' starting line-up. Dan Gosling looks a doubt having been subbed early in the Oldham game and it may be the bench for King if Stanislas is deemed fit enough to play.

Possible AFCB line-up

AFCB Subs:  Dennis, Carter-Vickers, Stacey, Billing,
Ofobrgh, Riquelme, Anthonly, Surridge, King

In other news, AFCB have a home the in the FA Cup fourth round against Crawley Town who beat Leeds Utd last round and in the fifth round the winner plays either Burnley or Fulham, so a  Premier League team for the fifth round.

Bournemouth look supreme in 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest

Match Report

AFCB 2 v 0 Nottingham Forest

24 November 2020

Bournemouth played the kind of football we dream of seeing them play in the first half. They took just three minutes to take the lead, when David Brooks picked out Junior Stanislas' run right down the middle and the former Burnley man made no mistake, putting Bournemouth 1-0. Nottingham Foret had to work incredibly hard to keep the score at 1-0 especially at the end of the first 45 minutes, when Brooks weaved in behind and pulled the ball back for Stanislas, who saw his shot cleared off the line. The game looked secure when Solanke went down from a challenge from Jack Colback and Stanislas grabbed his and Bournemouth's second from the penalty spot. Forest tried everything to get a goal, but the closest they came was a header from Yates that went over. Solanke might have been tripped for a second penalty right at the end, but it didn't matter that it wasn't given. This was just the 90-minute performance that Jason Tindall had been demanding.

Junior Stanislas scores his first goals of 2020-21 and helps Bournemouth to a 2-0 win.

Bournemouth made two changes with Adam Smith and Chris Mepham starting the game, while Diego Rico moved to the bench and Jack Stacey dropped out of the squad. Philip Billing also returned to the subs bench. It was also Steve Cook's 350th appearance for AFCB. Bournemouth also welcomed back Harry Arter and Lyle Taylor to Dean Court.

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Match description
Forest start well and attack, Arter shoots over. Bournemouth have hit back straight away with Brooks finding Stanislas and he scores in the corner on three minutes. Stanislas came from deep and ran right between the two centre-halves and put the ball past Samba, very cooly. Bournemouth go 1-0 up. It looked like one of the centre-backs slipped, but Stanislas took full advantage, latching on to Brooks pass and scoring his first goal of the season.

Yates goes right through Lewis Cook. Cook is taking a long breather. Lyle Taylor has forced a corner for Forest on 11 minutes. Lerma on the break and Brooks is up with him. Forest have it back.

Kelly loses the ball to Ameobi and Arter has a shot blocked. Christie puts a great cross in and Taylor gets ahead of Mepham but heads over. 

Danjuma turns well away from Christie, and has his shot blocked by Samba at the near post. So close to 2-0. The short corner doesn't come off and Lewis Cook fires wide from distance.

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Bournemouth have so much time on the ball. Christie puts a cross in but Steve Cook clears. Ameobi has a shot right at Begovic. Stanislas is working well across the midfield, getting Danjuma and Brooks involved. 

Bournemouth are buzzing around the Forest box, like busy honey bees. Ameobi has a shot blocked by Steve Cook. Lewis Cooks plays it forward to Brooks and Brooks turns and fires wide.

Ribeiro fouls Brooks. Stanislas robs the ball well for Bournemouth. Ameobi gets a good ball in but Arter heads wide. 

Lewis Cook is being given far too much space in the middle. Solanke goes for a long shot but gets no power in it.

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Bournemouth are caressing the ball beautifully around the pitch. Forest are standing off too far and are not really pressing Bournemouth.

Forest get some good possession but Christie's drilled cross is stepped over and finds its way safely to Begovic. 

Solanke wins a corner. Yates is fouled by Lerma. Two added minutes. Brooks along the byline and Stanislas has a shot cleared off the line, the follow up is also cleared. Scott McKenna beat Solanke to the ball on the line.

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Second half
Ameobi has fouled Lerma. Solanke keeps the ball well under pressure. Brooks, in the box, pulls it back for Stanislas but the shot goes wide. 

Adam Smith concedes a corner. Solanke goes over in the box and Jack Colback brought him down. It's a penalty. It was a tangle of legs. Bournemouth's first penalty in the Championship this season. Stanislas puts the penalty kick away 2-0 on 51 minutes. Stanislas sent the keeper the wrong way.

Danjuma wins a corner. Stanislas pulls a shot well over the bar. Danjuma then hits a shot over from distance.

Lolley passes across to Yates who soots well but Begovic makes the save, getting everything behind the ball.

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Forest have a corner taken by Arter but Brooks has it. The pass to Stanislas is overhit. Bournemouth clear another Forest corner. Lolley is subbed by Anthony Knockaert on 61 minutes.

Arter has won a corner. Great header out by Solanke. Ameobi gets a deflected shot away, corner. Ameobi goes for a shot from teh corner of the box but it's a good height for Begovic who saves and concedes the corner. Knockaert hits a ball to teh far post and Yates head over in the six-yard box. 

David Brooks comes off and Gosling is on after 71 minutes. Danjuma picks up a corner.  Arter is replaced by Guerrero on 76 minutes. 

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Rico is on for Lerma on 79 minutes. Gosling is carded for a foul Knockaert.

Bournemouth have a free kick in Brighton's half. Stanislas is taking it and hits the wall. Lewis Cook picks up a yellow card.

Riquelme replaces Danjuma on 90 minutes. Three additional minutes. Solanke goes down but there's no penalty. Colback clipped Solanke's heels.

Summary
Bournemouth are really slipping into their top gear now. As an attacking force, they look so confident that they are lining up to score goals. The movement and creativity is clear to see and with a clean sheet as well in this game, things are going well for the Cherries. At home, the Cherries remain unbeaten. What I liked most though about this performance is the way Bournemouth attacked on both flanks and looked equally dangerous on each side coming forward. Solanke is getting even better at holding up the ball and players are finding forward runs that are difficult to track for the opposition. Finally, it was great to see Junior Stanislas get off the mark with two goals and he is working well with Danjuma.

AFCB line-up

AFCB Subs: Travers, Rico, Simpson, Ofoborh, Gosling, Billing, Riquelme, Anthony, Surridge

AFCB player ratings: Begovic 6, A Smith 6,  S Cook 7, Mepham 6, Kelly 6, Brooks 7, Lerma 6,
L Cook 6, Stanislas 8, Danjuma 7, Solanke 7

Nottingham Forest
30 Samba, 2 Christie, 5 Ribeiro, 6 McKenna, 22 Yates, 8 Colback, 31 Arter (Guerrero 76), 11 Ameobi, 23 Lolley (Knockaert 61), 33 Taylor

Forest Subs: 12 Smith, 6 Mbe Soh, 16 Jenkinson, Cafu, 19 Guerrero, 28 Knockaert, 44 Ionnou, 48 Swan 

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Forest's former Cherries must be sent packing

Bournemouth's left-back might want to pass at Man City game

The return of Charlies Daniels doesn't look far off now. He was seen training with the AFCB players ahead of the Carabao Cup game with Man City tomorrow. For Charlie though, the Man City game might not be such a good game to come back in having injured his knee last ear against Man City at Dean Court. I don't know if Charlie is in the manager's thoughts yet, but it would be difficult to take if Charlie was ready and got another knock against City.

Charlie is close to putting an AFCB shirt back on
 but the Man City game may come too soon

Players have to return at some point and the fact that you could return against the team that injured your last time out might not mean much to some players. Competition for the left-back spot has been easier with Daniels being away but as he returns he will want that spot back, and Adam Smith may find he is more up against Jack Stacey to find a place in the team.

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What you will get with Daniels is a high work rate and plenty of deliveries. Bournemouth has been supplying a lot of crosses from the right side but has certainly missed Daniels' power on the left. It is possible that Man City will play a few academy players in Thursday's game, but Bournemouth has the numbers to put out a fairly strong squad. The  Carabao Cup has only seen Bournemouth progress to the quarter-finals, but if they can beat Man City they would suddenly be one of the teams thinking that they could go a long way in the competition. It would also be good to see Charlie come back if he is ready. If JT can get as many positives as he can at the start of his reign it will start to push the Cherries forward again.

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The team that JT will pick might be quite different from the Crystal Palace line-up from the last round. Begovic has been newly installed as the number one keeper for league games so we could see Travers or Will Dennis in goal, while Jaidon Anthony and Gavin Kilkenny will be hoping to get more of a chance like Jordan Zemura has was given against Palace. I'd imagine Philip Billing is also hoping to get some minutes as it hasn't been a great start of the season for him.

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Possible AFCB line up

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - If only it was easy to keep finding lots of hidden Harry Arters

Bournemouth defender may find Burnley hard to resist

JT's comments that the club would not stop players wanting to leave may well have backfired, as more clubs see the Cherries as rich pickings for reinforcing their Premier League squads. The latest interest comes from Shaun Dyches' Burnley, who welcome JT's openness, and are now seeking to take Adam Smith to Turf Moor, according to the Mail Online.

Burnley show interest in Adam Smith.

I wouldn't say that Adam Smith had one of his best seasons in 2019-20, but his versatility was very much needed when Charlie Daniels was injured. Bournemouth seemed to have a good bit of strength in depth on the right side, when both Smith and Stacey are available. Now it looks like Jack Stacey might have pole position for the right-back spot in the Championship, if Burnley come in with a reasonable offer for Smudge.

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For Adam Smith it would probably be a good move to continue his Premier League career and to try something new. Whether Burnley would be his choice though is another matter. I hadn't expected interest to come in for Adam Smith, but it looks like any first team player in the Bournemouth squad is up for grabs at the moment.

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At 29 Adam Smith still has a few good years left in him. He is under contract at AFCB for another year, so Bournemouth could make money on his sale which seems to be the common yardstick by which players are either staying or going at the moment. We may have seen Smith's best years though and to lose him would not be as bad as loosing Jack Stacey, so I suspect that if Burnley do make a bid it will be seriously considered.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Is Lerma too good for the Championship?

Bournemouth have no luck in goalless draw with Spurs

Match Report

AFCB v Spurs

9 July 2020

How is your luck? Bournemouth couldn't have hoped to face a more woeful and shy-shot Tottenham Hotspur side, but Bournemouth couldn't get the goal they needed to win the game. Bournemouth almost gave a penalty away, when King bundled into the back of Kane, but it was a strong first half performance by the Cherries with Stanislas going closest to scoring with a low drive on the turn, which Lloris just kept out. Spurs were much better coming forward in the second half, but Bournemouth had chances to win the game. Josh King thought that he had scored, but Stanislas was offside. And on 90 minutes we thought Callum Wilson had scored, but the ball had brushed off Josh King's arm on the way in and was disallowed by VAR. Worse still, Harry Wilson had a chance to win the game in added time and couldn't beat Lloris one on one. One point will be taken, but it's probably not enough. Adam Smith was also worryingly stretchered off with a head injury.

Adam Smith could be out for a while after a nasty head injury. 

Bournemouth dropped Dominic Solanke and Lewis Cook to the bench to allow Callum Wilson and Dan Gosling to come into the side. Diego Rico and Lloyd Kelly kept their places, while Andrew Surman returned to the bench, but there were no places for Chris Mepham or Philip Billing and Jack Stacey was left on the bench, rather than replacing Adam Smith who I had expected to be dropped.

Spurs brought in Vertonghen for Dier, who was suspended and Lamela replaced Son Heung-Min, who moved to the bench.

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Match Description
Bournemouth don't look very settled in the first few minutes. Lerma fouls Lamela and Gosling also leaves a foot in on Kane. Adam Smith can't get his cross in and Brooks fouls Davies. 

Aurier puts a ball all the way across the box from the right and Adam Smith has to put it behind. Kane is clattered by King and VAR is looking at the incident, but no penalty is given.

Spurs are dominating possession. Bournemouth already look second best. Adam Smith gets forward well and wins a throw. Lerma puts a deep ball in but King and Stanislas can't get a shot in. King wins a corner off Lamela.

Gosling is winning possession and Rico's early ball in is cleared. Lo Celso fouls Callum Wilson.it's a bit far out for Brooks. Rico and King are over the ball and it's hung up for Lloris, too easy.

Both teams are giving the ball away. Stanislas passes through to King but he's lost control on the edge of the box.

Rico tackles Aurier cleanly. Callum Wilson is fouled by Lamela on the right side of the box on 18 minutes. David heads away, Bournemouth have a corner but Kelly can't get the ball back in.

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Gosling is fouled by Lamela. Lerma heads it at the far post but Kane clears in the six yard box for a corner. Two corners follow for Bournemouth. Brooks crosses but can't find his man.

Adam Smith is fouled. Bournemouth keep up the pressure. Gosling does well up the left.  A long throw. Callum Wilson turns and shoots but can't get a clear hit. King can't reach a cross and Lloris picks it out of the air.

Tottenham's attack on the right is blocked by Aké bravely ahead of Lamela. Another corner for Spurs and another. Ramsdlae catches the corner ball.

King does well and Brooks into King but Spur's clear. Lerma and Sissoko go head to head and Adam Smith comes in. Sissoko and Lerma are booked on 31 minutes. Aké almost gets on the end of the free kick.

Davies gets behind but Bournemouth clear with Gosling. Gosling is giving some steel to midfield. The ball breaks for Stanislas and Brooks has a pop at a long shot, corner. Stanislas takes the corner. It's too high.

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King keeps losing the ball. Gosling is the saviour again. Rico has to block an Aurier cross for a corner. Ramsdale catches cleanly. Lamela fouls Rico. Good position on the left for Bournemouth. It comes in low but straight at the keeper.

Brooks already has his socks around his ankles. Aké blocks well. Lamela goes for a long shot but it's well over. Bournemouth were slow to close him down.

Rico's cross. Stanislas forces a s save low on the turn from Lloris, corner. Spurs clear. Two added minutes go up.

Gosling has a superb game.

Second half 
Son Heung-Min and Ndombele, are coming on for Bergwijn and Lo Celso. Stanislas is fouled. Brooks almost bursts through. Spurs pick up possession. Sissoko is fouled. Lerma fouls Lamela right in front of the box. A dangerous place to give a way a free kick.

Kane is looking to take it. Adam Smith takes the blow in the wall, lower chest. He's okay. Rico is down now. Stanislas through to Callum Wilson, who goes down under pressure from Vertonghen, no penalty.

Adam Smith takes another blow, this time to the head, from Davies. Stacey is coming on for Adam Smith on 63 minutes. Winks skies a shot from distance. 

Harry Wilson is coming on for David Brooks on 66 minutes. Stacey gets a few passes away well. Aké clears from Aurier's cross. Corner to Spurs. Bournemouth goal kick.

King is in behind but it's off Davies for a corner. King puts the header wide at the back post. Callum Wilson does well to win the ball, but Harry Wilson gives it away cheaply. Kelly stops a ball to Kane on his six yard line.

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Spurs are subbing Sissoko for Lucas Moura on 75 minutes. Ndombele makes a good run, then over hits a pass. Gosling gets in ahead of Kane. Kane to Davies and Bournemouth scramble it away. Another cross and Lamela can't quite direct it in target.

King on the right, and Harry Wilson loses it. Spurs are improving. Rico gets a saving tackle in on Moura and Spurs come a gain and have a corner. Lerma wins the header, Stacey then clears under the bar.

Another shot from Aurier and it's a corner. Moura turns and shots, deflected for a corner. Aké gets it away. Spurs rack up another corner. Lerma gets it out.

Callum Wilson is caught late, Stanislas races down the left and crosses for King to score, but Stanislas was offside. The goal won't count. Ndombele is carded for the foul on Callum Wilson. 

Bournemouth only have a free kick. Gosling is booked. Another free kick to Bournemouth. Wilson has a shot and Lerma heads, Callum Wilson has clipped it in with an overhead kick on 90 minutes! VAR check, did it hit Callum Wilson's arm?  No goal.

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12 minutes of added time. Spurs sub Aurier for Carvalho Fernandes. Corner to Bournemouth. Lloris catches the ball.

Stacey up for Callum Wilson, but Gosling can't get to the ball. 

King makes a cross field pass, Harry Wilson is through on Lloris and the shot is saved! What a chance missed. Six minutes to go. Will Bournemouth get a better chance than that?

Spurs win a corner. King brings the ball out. Ramsdale has cramp. Bournemouth clear their box. Gosling went in on Moura but no foul was given. 

Harry Wilson blows his big match winning chance.

Summary
Bournemouth had chances to put this game to bed, but they just couldn't score despite some major incidents. It feels like two points dropped, and yet it is great that Bournemouth finally have their fifth clean sheet of the season. They are now three points from safety with games running out and move ahead of Aston Villa in the table. The good point is that it was against a top half team, but Tottenham looked as clueless as Bournemouth in front of goal. Harry Wilson will have nightmares about his late chance, but he'll have to live with it. This game was calling out to be won and even though Bournemouth had the ball in the back of the net a couple of times, they just haven't had any luck. Let's hope Adam Smith recovers quickly as well.

AFCB Ratings
Ramsdale 7, A Smith 5, Aké 7, Kelly 6, Rico 5, Brooks 5, Lerma 5, Gosling 8, Stanislas 7, King 5, C Wilson 5

AFCB Line-up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Stacey, Steve Cook, Lewis Cook,
Surman, Danjuma, Harry Wilson. Solanke, Surridge.

Cherry Chimes MoM - Dan Gosling

Ref Watch: Paul Tierney 2/10 - lots of late calls and perhaps he should have given Spurs a penalty early on.

Tottenham
1 Lloris, 24 Aurier (Carvalho Fernandes90), 4 Alderweireld, 5 Vertonghen, 33 Davies, 17 Sissoko (Moura 75), 8 Winks, 18 Lo Celso (Ndombele 45), 11 Lamela, 10 Kane, 23 Bergwijn (Son Heung-Min 45)

Spurs Subs:  6 D Sánchez, 7 Son Heung-Min, 19 R Sessegnon, 22 Gazzaniga,
27 Lucas Moura, 28 Ndombele, 29 Skipp, 30 Carvalho Fernandes, 53 White

Better defending still needed for the Cherries

Match Report

Man City 2 v 1 AFC Bournemouth

15 July 2020

AFCB don' get the VAR decision but put in a great performance at the Etihad.

Bournemouth went a goal down early in which was just what wasn't required. David Silva scored on from a well taken free kick, just six minutes in, after Lerma had given a way a free kick. Bournemouth then soaked up pressure well and created one or two chances with Stanislas going close, when he hit the post from a free kick and Solanke saw an attempt cleared off the six yard box. Jesus put Man City in the driving seat before half-time with a great bit of skill on the left side, and a clean finish in the bottom corner. It could have been worse when Lerma left his foot in against Jesus, but VAR did not give a penalty. Bournemouth could also have gone 3-0 down, but a Steve Cook's penalty decision was overturned by VAR, and from then on it was Bournemouth who looked most likely to score. Josh King had been unlucky thought to be ruled offside, when he though he had halved the deficit. David Silva misjudged ball that hit his arm in the box, but there was no VAR penalty decision in favour of Bournemouth. The energy of David Brooks and Callum Wilson were a big positive and David Brooks scored on 88 minutes. There was also a chance for Callum Wilson to get the draw in added time, and Lewis Cook and Jefferson Lerma had shots blocked, while Surridge almost got on the end of a free kick. In the end, Bournemouth just ran out of time in an exciting finish to the game.

Bournemouth made four changes for this game. It was a bit of a surprise to see Callum Wilson replaced by Josh King in the starting line up. Steve Cook also came in for the injured Aké and Billing made a start ahead of Danjuma, while Stanislas came in at wing back and Brooks was also on the bench.

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Match Description
Man City are keeping the ball and are inching closer to the Bournemouth goal, but Walkers' cross goes past everyone. Rico makes a cross and Gosling's header is at the keeper. Jesus is found by Ederson on his own, but the pass from Jesus goes astray.

Billing loses it in midfield, not strong enough. Lerma slides in on Silva and it's a free kick. David Silva hits it right in the top right corner, off the cross bar, 1-0 to Man City on six minutes.

Solanke almost gets on the end of a lose ball. Fernandinho with a shot from distance, goes just wide. A well hit shot. Rico down to Billing, but Gosling can't keep it play.

Bournemouth are getting penned in, but escape with a free kick for Gosling. The long ball upfield and Ederson beats Steve Cook to it. Lloyd Kelly picks up a card for pulling back Jesus on 17 minutes.

The passing in the middle of the park is crisp from Man City, but Bournemouth are finding it hard to get a sequence of passing going. It has been like a training session or a game of chess with Man City just looking to find gaps on the field. King was doing well helping out the midfield. Stacey put in a great cross, but Stones beats Gosling to the ball.

Bournemouth have a press on. City get a throw though. Solanke over hits a pass for Josh King. Lerma intercepts, but gives it straight back to City.

Gosling keeps a chance alive, Josh King turns but puts the shot wide. Encouraging for Bournemouth. Lerma make a sliced clearance for a Man City corner. Bournemouth clear.

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A long throw from Kelly and Billing knocks it on before Man City clear. It is still a pedestrian pace. Man City are taking their time and Bournemouth are doing all the running.  Every now and a gain Lerma or Gosling get a foot in.

Foden has a snap shot, but clips it over from Mendy's pass. Solanke takes the ball down well from a Ramsdale kick. Stacey crosses, but the Bournemouth players can't win the header. 

Solanke wins a free kick off Otamendi on 32 minutes. Stanislas is looking to take the kick. It's tipped onto the post at full stretch by Ederson. So unlucky for Stanislas, because the keeper didn't know where the ball was. It could have gone in off the back of his head.

Gosling crosses and King heads over. Bernado Silver shoots wide on the volley from a cross from the left. King to Gosling and Solanke is blocked on the six yard line by Otamendi. Another header goes over from Billing.

David Silva on the left and Jesus opens up the Bournemouth defence and fires in to the bottom corner cutting past Stacey and Steve Cook. It's 2-0 to City on 39 minutes.

King does ever so well, but doesn't shoot or pass at the need when Stacey was available. Ramsdale gets to a cross and juggles it, he's lost it. Lerma has to clear, but he has caught Jesus. VAR has not given a penalty. Few.

Two minutes of added time.

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Second half

Sterling and Garcia come on for Bermardo Silva and Carl Walker.  Josh King wins a corner. Rico takes the corner, but it's headed out and he doesn't find Billing.

Man City are keeping possession now. Kelly heads clear a Mendy cross. Bournemouth just aren't able to get forward. They are being hemmed in their own half. Ramsdale catches a City corner.

Mendy crosses again and King wins a free kick. A ball over the top for Jesus, but Stacey has it covered. The pace of the game has been noticeably ponderous in the second half.

Solanke does well to keep the ball. Stanislas does great work down the right and cut's back and King taps in, but is he offside? VAR will check. 60 minutes have gone and VAR says offside.

Billing is on the box but can't find a team-mate. Rico has a cross down the left, but it goes out of play. Stanislas puts in a cross from the right and Ederson spills it with Solanke coming in and Gosling spoons his shot wide - a real chance on 64 minutes.

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King gets in behind and goes down the byline and Stones is forced to give a corner away. Lerma tries to head it back but it's too strong.

Sterling fouls Kelly. Man City sub Gündogan for Rodri on 68 minutes. Callum Wilson and David Brooks and Lewis Cook are on for Solanke, Stanislas and Gosling.

Silva puts a ball in low from the left. Jesus in the penalty area is taken down by Steve Cook - penalty. VAR is checking. Maybe Cook got some of the ball. No penalty!

Sterling is trying to get in down the left. Jesus gets free on the left but shoots past the left post. Mahrez and Zinchenko come on for Mendy and Jesus on 76 minutes.

King is replaced by Harry Wilson on 77 minutes. Billing out to Harry Wilson and he's down in the box. Where is VAR? Oh, it was a dive.

City have a corner. Mahrez crosses but Ramsdale saves. Brooks on the right, pulls it back to Callum Wilson and he has squeezed it wide of the left post.

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Eight minutes left. Can Bournemouth reduce that goal difference? Garcia puts on a deep cross and Foden beats his man, but Ramsdale saves at the near post.

Kelly has a long throw. It hits David Silva's hand, but not a penalty! Billing and Callum Wilson but Bournemouth lose it. Bournemouth are pressing for this goal.

Rico a ball down the left  Callum Wilson and Brooks has turned it in on 88 minutes. 

Brooks and Callum Wilson now with a chance. He has hit it wide, off the defender. He snatched at it.

Six minutes of added time. Surridge is on. Billing is off, Callum Wilson is in behind. Lewis Cook doesn't shoot Lerma is blocked.

Free kick and the keeper might not get it, Steve Cook heads on, Surridge goes in but Ederson saves second time. Man City are hanging on the ropes.

Bournemouth get back to thwart Sterling and Mahrez. Garcia is carded for a foul on Harry Wilson.

Brooks puts in a cross too deep. Surridge on the chase, but Ederson wins the race. Kelly with a throw Cook heads on and Stones clears.

Summary
Bournemouth won't get any closer than this to making life uncomfortable for Man City. A 2-1 defeat was not perhaps justice for the chances Bournemouth created. The chances came right at the end, but Bournemouth couldn't convert them. Still, they did get one goal back from Harry Wilson and that could be vital when it comes to goal difference with Watford still to play Man City. Bournemouth made 14 chances which is the most of any team coming to the Etihad in the four years of Guardiola's reign. This is a team that is fighting and the fight goes on. VAR has again been cruel and Bournemouth aren't getting the strong referees that they need at times, but Man City is the toughest of tests and the remaining games will be easier for Bournemouth to try and win.

AFCB line-up

AFCB Subs: 1 Boruc, 6 Surman, 13 C Wilson, 14 Danjuma, 16 L Cook, 20 Brooks, 22 H Wilson, 25 Simpson,

44 Surridge

AFCB Ratings
Ramsdale 5, Stanislas 7 (Brooks 6), Stacey 6, S Cook 5, Kelly 6, Rico 6,
Billing 6 (Surridge 5), Lerma 5,  Gosling 5 (L Cook 5), King 6 (H Wilson 5),
Solanke 5 (C Wilson 5)

AFCB MoM: Junior Stanislas

Ref Watch: Lee Mason 1/10 not very good at spotting penalties but Man City were already 2-0 up when he missed Lerma's foul. Then he thought Steve Cook had given a penalty away and VAR overturned it. Still, not sure why Davi Silva's handball was not given either.

Man City

31 Ederson, 2 Walker (Garcia 45), 5 Stones, 30 Otamendi, 22 Mendy (Zinchenko 76),
25 Fernandinho, 8 Gündogan, 20 Bernardo Silva, 21 Silva (Sterling 45), 47 Foden, 9 Gabriel Jesus (Mahrez 76)

Man City Subs
7 Sterling, 11 Zinchenko, 14 Laporte, 16 Rodri, 17 De Bruyne, 26 Mahrez, 33 Carson, 50 García, 69 Doyle